A Deep Self-Love, Meditation & Qigong Retreat for Breakthrough Clarity & Real Healing

This self-love, meditation and qigong healing retreat takes place over a long weekend at Drala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. It is led by Blake D. Bauer, international bestselling author and wisdom teacher, and is meant for people who want practical ways to care for themselves, regulate their nervous system and find clarity about what comes next, whether personally or professionally. No prior experience with meditation or qigong is needed.

The weekend rests on one idea: that anxiety, depression, self-doubt, addiction, illness and relationship difficulty can be read as signals from the body and mind asking for a healthier relationship with yourself. Over three nights you learn mindfulness meditation and gentle qigong, along with a set of daily habits you can take home.

What to Expect

Arrival is on the first afternoon, with check-in at the Guest Services Cabin between 2:00 and 5:00 PM. Dinner follows, then a program orientation. The two full days in the middle are given to teaching and practice, and a detailed daily schedule is shared when you arrive. The retreat closes on the final day, with departure at 2:30 PM.

The core of the teaching is seven daily habits that Blake presents as the ways to value yourself, work with tension and past wounds held in the body, and reshape your health and relationships. These are paired with two practices:

- Mindfulness meditation to train the mind and stay present when fear or uncertainty arises.
- Qigong, a gentle form of self-healing movement that Blake describes as helping release stuck energy and emotion. The page notes qigong's roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Other topics include non-violent communication for difficult conversations, forgiving yourself and others, working with guilt, shame and limiting beliefs, and clarifying your direction and sense of purpose. The setting is meant to offer both stillness and community, in a space where you can look at fears and old wounds with support.

About Blake D. Bauer

Blake D. Bauer is the author of the international bestseller You Were Not Born To Suffer. He has worked with people around the world who did not find lasting answers through conventional medicine, psychiatry or coaching. His background spans psychology, neuroscience, alternative medicine, nutrition, traditional healing, mindfulness meditation and qigong. Past participants describe his approach as centered on learning to love and forgive yourself without judgment.

The Setting

Drala Mountain Center sits in the Colorado mountains near Red Feather Lakes. Lodging is chosen at checkout, and the options are varied:

- Dormitories: gender-segregated rooms for seven to eight people, with a shared bathroom and showers down the hall.
- Monk Rooms: private indoor rooms with a bed, closet, desk and large window, and a shared bathroom.
- Single and Double Rooms: more space, a dresser and closet, and an attached bathroom with toilet, sink and shower.
- Junior Suite: a queen bed, sitting area, desk and a private bath with tub.
- Car Camping: five primitive parking spots in the Rigden parking lot, with access to the bathhouses in Rigden Lodge. There are no water or electric hookups for RVs.
- Off Land: for those commuting or staying nearby, such as at a bed and breakfast or a campsite.

Three meals a day and drinks are provided, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Before You Go

The retreat is open to all levels, and the practices are gentle and suitable for newcomers. It is taught in English. Tuition includes instruction from Blake D. Bauer, three nights of lodging in your chosen accommodation, meals and drinks, and the arrival orientation. Extra nights can be added at a reduced rate. Off-campus guests pay tuition plus a nightly charge for meals and use of the facilities. Travel to and from the center is not included.